Although there is newfound machismo attached to trumping an employee's marginal performance with the phrase, "You're fired," most managers do not approach the prospect of firing someone with a smile and steely stare.
Today's best managers provide struggling employees with coaching, guidance, and feedback, along with clear information regarding the consequences of continued questionable performance. It sounds like you have taken some of these steps, but your employee has not responded.
When you allow this type of situation to continue, you undermine your own effectiveness as well as that of your department. Perhaps you are overly concerned with being well-liked, or maybe it is your desire to avoid confrontation, but allowing a problem employee to continue is unfair to you, your employees, your company, and even the employee. You have given him every opportunity to succeed, but he has turned them all down.
By allowing a problem employee to keep his job, you are also allowing others to wonder about your managerial skills. Ironically, your reluctance to fire a marginal employee can increase the likelihood that you will be fired.
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